Bandwidth Calculator
The internet speed your devices actually need.
Enter how many devices use your network and roughly how much bandwidth each needs. The calculator multiplies them out and adds a 20% overhead buffer for network efficiency and peak moments. Great for choosing between ISP plans or settling the 'is our internet too slow?' debate.
How it's calculated
Needed bandwidth = devices × Mbps per device × 1.2, where the extra 20% covers protocol overhead and simultaneous peak usage.
Frequently asked questions
How much bandwidth does one device need?
As a rule of thumb: browsing 2–5 Mbps, HD video 5–8 Mbps, 4K video 25 Mbps, video calls 2–5 Mbps, gaming 3–6 Mbps. Add up whatever your household does at once.
How do I know if bandwidth is my problem?
Divide the needed total by the number of devices and compare with what each actually uses. Video calls stuttering while someone streams 4K is the classic sign.
Why the 20% overhead?
Yes — the 20% buffer accounts for Wi-Fi overhead, encryption, and everyone going online at once. Remove it only if you are budgeting a wired connection with no contention.